UNESCO Adopts Anti-Doping Convention

The 191 member states of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have unanimously adopted the International Convention Against Doping in Sport.

Wenesday's action was welcomed by the World Anti-Doping Agency, which called the adoption of the convention "a strong signal of the commitment of the governments of the world to the fight against doping in sport."

UNESCO's general conference approved the accord at its meeting in Paris. It requires regular testing of all athletes and standardizes sanctions against those who violate the rules. The agreement also urges member states to increase education about the dangers of doping.

In a statement, UNESCO says the agreement marks the first time that national governments have come together in a "binding and universal" accord to wipe out doping in sport.

The accord has to be ratified by the governments of 30 of the 191 UNESCO member states before it goes into effect. The organization hopes that will happen before the 2006 Winter Olympics get underway in Turin, Italy, in February. Only the governments who ratify the treaty will be bound by it.